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Veterans Day is November 11. It is a day dedicated to honoring the military men and women who have served and defended our country. We are truly grateful for all that they have done.

I came upon these U.S. Army patches at a local vintage/antique store. They were once a part of the uniforms that have since retired. The slight fading, threads unraveling and the wear and tear on these patches are reminders of where they came from. I brought them home and decided to reuse and repurpose them as keychains. If you’re looking to make this project, check the local thrift/antique stores and the Army Surplus stores for the materials. These U.S. Army keychains are a great way to keep the military men and women in our thoughts and prayers. It’s also a wonderful way to show our support. The kids will enjoy making these with you, and at the same time what a great opportunity it would be to share and have conversations about Veterans Day, the military and the history of our nation.

The fall season is upon us as evident in the change in color and scenery. Ralph Lauren’s Fall/Winter 2015-16 woman’s collection captured the season beautifully. The theme throughout the show played on the essence of the American west in a refined, sophisticated, and elegant manner. Multiple layers of rich luxurious fabrics, faux-fur constructed of shearling, suede, and cashmere were mixed and matched with simple knitted ensembles, classic suites, basic turtlenecks, shirts, pants, and skirts. To enhance the monochromatic looks, dramatic long fringes, chunky knits, feathers, and lace along with statement accessory pieces were incorporated into each outfit. The collection celebrated the American west and the season to its fullest.

September 11, 2001 was the day America was attacked by terrorists. Two American Airlines, flight 11 and 175 crashed into the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. One United Airlines, flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. The other United Airlines, flight 93 never made it to their target in Washington DC, but crashed in the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks claimed 2977 lives. The tragedy didn’t hinder our nation or make us weak as intended. The strength and spirit of America is alive and well today!

“Ground Zero” became known as the area where the two towers of the World Trade Center once stood. 911 Memorial was built and opened to the public 10 years after the tragic events. The memorial is outside in a park like setting with two large reflecting pools, waterfalls, and inscriptions of the victims’ names on the walls. The underground 911 Museum opened to the public on May 21, 2014. It is where artifacts, pictures, and the history of 9/11 are displayed to the public.

Summertime in Washington State is a time to take advantage of the outdoors and explore what nature has to offer, from the lush green forests, to the rugged mountains, the beautiful surrounding lakes, and the vast Pacific Ocean.

Last summer my brother, Mat and his friend, Ryan headed to the San Juan Islands to do some camping and a lot of kayaking. Many months of preparation had gone into the trip to insure their safety out in the open water. A double kayak was their source of transportation and storage for all their supplies and equipment. Mat had reserved the campgrounds in advance and to access the campsites, they had to paddle their kayak there. The initial trip was intended to be seven days of kayaking and exploring around one of the main islands, San Juan Island. But due to the weather, the trip was cut short by two days. The southern part of the island will have to be explored at another time.

Mat documented the trip using a GoPro high-definition camera. The videos were edited and condensed into a short twenty-two-minute film accompanied with music. It is available for viewing at the end of the blog post and on YouTube. The video started with them packing up early in the morning before heading out to the ferry. Later in the video, you will see two crabs they caught for dinner. Jones Island was their favorite place to camp because of the incredible view of the surrounding areas. The one negative they encountered throughout the two nights they were there was the large population of raccoons. Their curiousity kept the guys up throughout the first night, and got a little better the second night. You could fast forward about nineteen minutes into the video if you want to see these raccoons. All you will see are these glowing mysterious eyes watching your every move. Mat was able to capture many beautiful sceneries, sunsets, and wildlife during his trip. It was a fun adventure with lots of great memories for Mat and Ryan.

I am truly blessed to be living here in America and to have my family and friends to share it with. The 4th of July is America’s Independence Day. The Continental Congress took the risk and voted to declare independence from Great Britain on July 2nd, 1776. The Declaration of Independence was drafted and adopted on July 4th, 1776 and signed on August 2, 1776. Many lives were lost for the cause, and in the end America became a separate and free country. What a wonderful occasion it is to be able to celebrate the birth of this great nation. Bring out the red-white-and blue, the stars and stripes, and Old Glory to celebrate and show pride and patriotism for this beautiful country of ours.